You are at increased risk if you have sexual relations at an early age or engage in high-risk sexual behavior with many partners or have a history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Injury or irritation (a reaction to the chemicals in douches and contraceptives or a forgotten tampon) also can cause the disease. The objects may simply cause irritation and make the cervix more susceptible to infection.

You may have an allergy to contraceptive spermicides or to latex in condoms that leads to cervicitis.

Infections are much more often responsible for cervicitis than non-infectious causes.